MONTVALE, NJ – A new online network launched Tuesday will allow providers and pharmacists to seamlessly report adverse drug events via electronic health records and other online services.
PDR Network and its partners announced that RxEvent, which will serve to collect and distribute adverse drug events in the United States, is now available to all U.S. prescribers via integration into EHR platforms and other online services, including directly at www.RxEvent.org.
Roughly half a million adverse drug events are reported annually to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the number is growing rapidly according to data from the FDA. More than 90 percent of these reports come from pharmaceutical manufacturers who receive them initially from physicians and other providers, typically via telephone. Manufacturers then triage and attempt to investigate these reports, notifying the FDA when appropriate. Published studies indicate that as few as one in ten adverse drug events are actually reported by healthcare professionals largely due to the time-consuming and inefficient processes involved in reporting adverse drug events.
“RxEvent was designed to improve the convenience of adverse event reporting for physicians, the cost-efficiency for manufacturers, and the quality of information ultimately reported to the FDA,” explained Edward Fotsch, MD, CEO of PDR Network, the company providing the RxEvent service along with major EHR vendors and other partners. “RxEvent is part of the new suite of eCare Services that we are rolling out with content integrated into EHRs to increase drug and device efficacy and efficiency.”
“Our network of physicians is growing rapidly and with it grows our ability to contribute to drug safety,” stated Todd Rothenhaus, chief medical information officer, athenahealth, Inc. “RxEvent integrated into athenaClinicals supports our mission of physician convenience and patient safety.”
EHR use among physicians in the U.S. has grown dramatically and is approaching 50 percent, in part due to federal and industry subsidies to help cover the cost of these systems. Studies show that adverse drug event reporting integrated into EHRs increases the convenience, content and volume of adverse event reports.
“Through our PrimeRESEARCH clinical trials network integrated within Greenway’s PrimeSUITE EHR, we know that providers are vigilant to adverse events and are seeking a streamlined reporting process,” said Greenway President and CEO Tee Green. “We are pleased to be working with PDR Network to further improve the efficiencies that enable our provider customers on the front lines to improve drug quality and patient safety through an EHR reporting system that will also advance our ability to enable innovative clinical trials procedures.”
“Adverse drug event reporting is the tip of the spear in ensuring ongoing monitoring of prescription drugs. Drug safety requires a robust mechanism to identify, route, investigate and report adverse drug events,” noted Janet Woodcock, MD, director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA. “Integration of adverse event reporting into EHR systems places this service at the prescriber’s fingertips, adding to convenience and ultimately improved drug safety. We applaud PDR Network and their partners for their efforts.”
Jim Naughton, MD, an internist and EHR user who practices in the San Francisco Bay Area has had early access to the RxEvent service. He commented, “We see adverse drug events in our practice and I have reported them at times in the past. But the process has been cumbersome and certainly inhibits reporting at times. RxEvent improves both EHRs and adverse event reporting by making reporting much more physician- friendly.”
RxEvent will also be used by pharmacists who report tens of thousands of adverse events annually. “Pharmacists are actively involved in promoting and monitoring safe medication use by their patients. By supporting RxEvent, we hope to facilitate enhanced reporting by pharmacists, who see tens of thousands of adverse drug events annually,” said Thomas Menighan, executive vice president and CEO of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). “Pharmacists represent a key contributor to drug safety and we are working closely with PDR, as well as pharmacists in all practice settings across the country, to ensure that RxEvent is immediately available to all U.S. pharmacists.”
The RxEvent service integrated into EHRs provides quick and convenient access for physicians and has been designed to include pre-population of information as well as an improved mechanism for pharmaceutical manufacturers or the FDA to contact the reporting provider when additional information is required.
PDR eCare Services provides PDR’s trusted and authoritative drug information and clinical content to prescribers via their EHRs and other digital platforms. With PDR eCare Services, prescribers are provided a broad suite of drug regulatory and marketing services including RxEvent, as well as FDA-approved labeling, Drug Alerts, REMS programs and CME, product support and medication adherence programs, all within their EHR. eCare delivers an efficient resource that empowers physicians to prescribe with all the drug information and support that they and their patients need. eCare with RxEvent offers the most comprehensive set of regulatory, safety and product support services available. For more information on PDR Network programs and products, please click here.
